In almost every Shakespeare play, there are moments of humor. Comedy is one of the most prevalent genres in The Tempest. From the beginning to the end, Miranda and Prospero use comedy and funny dialogues to keep the mood light and happy. Comedy also encompasses a large aspect of what The Tempest is about: Prospero’s learning experience through changing himself to better his daughter, Miranda. Comedy in The Tempest is often used by Prospero and Miranda to lighten the mood or to show emotions that would otherwise be hard for them to show.
The comedy in the play begins with the entrance of Ariel and also when he exits at the end of Act 1 Scene 2. He makes a comical comment about Caliban’s foul odor, which entertains Alonso and Antonio: “If I were mortal, perhaps my touch might scathe you…”(I. ii) This shows how Ariel is able to make jokes about people who are lower than him on status, which shows his humorous side. Comedy continues in Act II Scene 1 when Ferdinand falls asleep after falling in love with Miranda. The comic relief is seen through Caliban’s song about drinking, which he sings while Ferdinand sleeps: “If I had now but two legs, how I would sweep the floor! But one will not hold my business…” Comedy is used here to show that people are willing to do anything for love.
Comedy also appears when Trinculo first encounters Caliban and thinks he is a monster, so he vows revenge on him by calling his master Stephano who helps Trinculo put a leash on him. Comedy continues in Act III Scene 1 after the court has landed on the island and Prospero returns their blow with good humor through magical means; Antonio begins insulting Alonso who then calls Prospero “A witch! A devil! ” Comedy is used to express Prospero’s happiness at seeing his long-lost daughter and to show that he has a lot of power.
Comedy is also apparent in Act IV Scene 1 when the court arrives back on the ship after being attacked by Caliban. The messenger tries to explain what happened but nobody believes him so they all laugh at the inconceivable story. Comedy adds to the scene as it shows how stubborn everyone can be about believing things even if they do not seem possible. Comedy continues again later in Act V Scene 1 after Ariel tells Prospero everything that has been going on since their separation from one another, creating an air of relief for everyone involved: “Thus hath he [Ariel] wasted the live-long day.
If you now beheld them, your affections / Would become tender…” Comedy sets in as Prospero reveals the plot he has concocted to return power back to him and to set things right with his brother. Comedy is used here because it brings happiness to the characters especially after so much hardship throughout their journey. Shakespeare incorporates many forms of comedy into The Tempest. Comedy can be found on almost every page of the play which shows how prevalent it is.
Comedy also adds lightness to what would otherwise be a serious plot that focuses more on human emotions rather than just on silly jokes about Caliban’s stench or drunkenness. Comedy plays an important part in The Tempest mainly because it serves as light relief to the characters. Comedy also shows how Prospero’s relationship with his daughter improves, through comedy, throughout The Tempest. Comedy gives insight into both aspects of Shakespeare’s play. Comedy is used everywhere in The Tempest and always makes for enjoyable reading.
While The Comedy of Errors is widely considered to be Shakespeare’s funniest play, some critics have argued that The Tempest contains the most humor. Comedy can be defined as “a literary work evoking laughter by depicting ludicrous or incongruous characters or situations. ” Humor is a personal perspective and depends on one’s understanding of the world around them. However, it has been said that “it makes sense… to say that there are two kinds of jokes, those that someone else doesn’t get, which are funny at least to some degree, and those that you don’t get, which are not funny at all.
Comedy often satirizes people who know something different from what we do. For us to laugh at their ignorance requires an implicit belief that we know something they don’t. Comedy can also be used to expose the “absurdities” in life and make them more bearable. Comedy relies on a formula, and this formula is typically applied to what society considers normal behavior (i. e. , tradition). The standard concept of comedy has been divided into two categories: Comedy of Manners and Comedy of Humor (McGee 17).
Comedy began as an ancient Greek way of storytelling about gods behaving badly. It was popularized by Menander who wrote plays which were notable for lacking both tragedy and fantasy material (Harris 164-165), such as The Ghost (407 BC) and Dyskolos (386 BC) (Harris 169). Comedy was considered a branch of Old Comedy until the Roman period when it began to be seen as completely separate from tragedy (Harris 166). Comedy was popular in various times, but many scholars agree that The Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s funniest play.
In his work The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare blends Comedy and Humor together in an attempt to make the audience laugh. In Act I, scene 2, Dromio of Ephesus enters with a letter for Antipholus: “From fair Emilia,” he quips in a fine display of facetious humor. He then continues to show witty remarks such as quoting the people who are coming into the court: “one calls me madman; another, ass; another, lazy knave; another, thick-headed fool. ” The Comedy of Errors was believed to not have been one of Shakespeare’s main goals.
He did not wish to provide his audience with an outstanding piece that would be remembered for years to come, nor did he intend to teach or stir any profound thoughts into the hearts or minds of his viewers. The Comedy of Errors was written merely to make people laugh. Comedy can also be used as a way for characters in The Tempest to satirize the behaviors, actions, and views held by society. Caliban is an excellent example of this because he shows what lies beneath the surface when exposed to corrupting forces such as greed and power through his interactions with Prospero in Act IV scene 1.
